Automatic boiler-feeder.



No. 768,542. PAT ENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

' v N. E. ROADHOUSE.

--AUTOMATIG BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1903..

N0 MODEL. 3SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

a 5 E g E E E a H H Haw-Hm EH m v I I "A? N] m Wa'bwafi'scs: I I I liwgnlvr: X "17M flbrmanl'llloadhomsa, 23 (W 1.3, /6M 0am No. 768,542, PATENTEDAUG. 23, 1904.

' N. F. ROADHOUSE.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION PILED'IEB. -16, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2 4 lhvenl'or:

- PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904.

' N. P. ROADHOUSE.

AUTOMATIC BOILER FEEDER.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 16, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

jvbrmrziomm UNITED I STATES Patented August 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN F. ROADHOUSE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIREOTAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELIJ AH K. BROWN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND-LOUIS A. WHEELER, OF WOBURN, MASSACHU- SETTS.

AUTOMATIC BOILER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,542, dated August 23, 1904. I

' Application filed February 16, 1903. Serial No. 143,516. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, NORMAN F. ROADHOUsE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and 5 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certaininew and useful Improvements in Automatic Boiler-Feeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and use ful improvements in feed-water apparatus for supplying feed-water to steam-boilers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeder the operation of which is controlled by the specific gravity of the water in the boiler whereby the feedwater pump will be automatically'set in mo- -tion as soon as the water-level in the boiler has lowered below the low-water mark or to a predetermined point and automatically stops when the proper supply has been obtained by the rising of the water-level in the boiler to 5 the required height, the device being operated entirely by the change in the water-level in the boiler and requiring no attention or manipulation on the part of the attendant, thus removing the difficulty of ascertaining 3 the height of the water in the boiler when it foams or bubbles.

A further object is to provide a feeder all' the parts of which will be outside of the boilershell, whereby access can be readily had thereto for the purpose of cleansing, repairing, and the like, .and which will allow of its parts being attached to the side of the boiler or when preferred placed upon the top of the boiler, and the apparatus may also be placed 4 upon a series of boilers all feeding from the same pump.

A further object is to provide a regulating device whereby there is a saving of fuel by allowing the engineer to keep a steady fire,

thereby saving coal; a saving of steam by having the steam dry and concentrated, giving full benefits of its power, and a saving in the life of the boiler, obtained by having the water at or nearly at a level at all times, thus doing away with contraction and expansion of boiler.

A further object is to provide simple and eflicient means for maintaining a constant but variant supply to the boiler, obtained by attaching it to the water-column, its automatic working taking the place of the personal operation of the center water-cock. This object I accomplish by connecting the two pipes, called, respectively, the steam-pipe and the water-pipe, of apparatus, (but which must not be confused with the steam and water pipes that connect with the feed-pump,) to

the boiler, the points of connection corresponding with the high and low water levels of the boiler. These two pipes are preferably connected with the boiler through the water-colu mm, as will be hereinafter explained. These two pipes and the mechanism connected therewith are employed to operate a lever attached to a valve the opening of which allows the passing of steam through the steampipe connected with and operating the feedpump which forces the water into the boiler through the water-pipe connected with the said pump and the closing of which shuts off the steam from the feed-pump and discontinues the flow of. water into the boiler.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my device connected with the water-column of the boiler and with the steam-pipe of the feed-pump,

portions of the brick casing inclosing the boiler being broken away. Fig. 2 is a top view of my apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the water-chamber being broken away. Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view from the rear end of the boiler, showing a sectional view through the center of the rotary joints employed in both of the pipes connected with said water-chamber, whereby said chamber is allowed to oscillate.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical central section through the body of the valve, showing the valve closed and contingent parts which control the supply of feed-pump steam.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a boiler a portion of which is shown within the brickwork, the brick casing being broken away for this purpose. The ordinary watercolumn 2, having the three usual gage-cocks, as at the points 3, 1, and 5, is connected with the boiler in the usual manner. In illustrating my invention 1 have preferably connected it with the valve-column; but in the building of new boilers the water-column may be dispensed with and the water and steam pipes of my apparatus may be connected direct to the boiler, the points of connection corresponding with the high and low water levels as desired in the boiler; but in making the connection I remove the middle and lower gage-cocks, as at 4 and 5, connecting the pipes of my apparatus into the apertures in the water-column occupied thereby, as these two gage-cocks correspond with the high and low water levels of the boiler, and in that respect said gage-cock apertures are convenient for connecting this apparatus. as they insure a proper location of the connecting-pipes.

The pipe 6, leading from the middle gagecock opening 1, is the steam-pipe of my apparatus, while the pipe 7, leading from the lower gage-cock opening 5, is the water-pipe of my apparatus; but these two pipes 6 and 7 must not be confused with the steam-pipe 11 or the water-pipe 12, connecting with the pump 10, which may be any approved form of forcing or ejecting apparatus, and it is necessary for the successful working of this apparatus that portions of these two pipes 6 and 7 stand in the same horizontal plane. This I have shown in the drawings at the point where the portion 35 of the pipe 6 and the portion 21 of the pipe 7 respectively enter the rotary joints 34: and 22, and by placing aportion of each of these two pipes in the same plane the apparatus may be placed either on the side or the top of the boiler without in any degree affecting its successful working. I have also shown the steam-pipe 6 in the drawings extending horizontally from the watercolumn to the joint 34; but, if desired, portions of this pipe could be extended vertically, as would be necessary when the apparatus is placed upon top of the boiler. The pipe 6 enters the rotary joint at the point 35, and

an opening in the joint allows the steam to pass through into that portion of the steampipe (designated 33) which extends from its other end and thence through one or more sections of this pipe, which leads, as at 30, into the upper end of the water-chamber 28.

The water-pipe 7, leading from the lower gage-cock opening, extends horizontally from the water-column a certain distance and then rises vertically, as at 19, and from the upper end of the vertical portion said pipe again extends horizontally, as at 20 and 21, into the rotary joint 22 and thence from the other end, as at 23, into the T-coupling 25, through which runs the piping 26, carrying thereon at one end a weight 27, through which the end of said rod passes and which may be secured in place by a nut. The opposite part of said piping 26 extends at its outer end vertically and enters the lower end of the waterchamber 28, so that water or steam can pass from the boiler 1 into the water-colunm 2, thence through the piping 7, 19, 2t), 21, 22, 23, 26, and ,29 into the water-chamher 28, and thence through the piping 30, 31, 32, 33, 31, 35, and 6 back into the water-column or boiler. To allow a tilting or oscillation of the waterchamber 28 for purposes hereinafter described, the sections 23 and 33 are provided with rotary joints, the working of which will be hereinafter explained.

For the proper cleansing of the pipes 6 and 7 and the water-chamber 28 the pipes 6 and 7 are respectively provided with the shut-oll' valves 15 and 1 1, and from the pipe 7, between this valve 1% and the part 19, is connected the T-shaped coupling 16, and extending therefrom at right angles to the pipe 7 is the piping 18, carrying the blow-oif valve 17.

Leading from the steam-space of the boiler is a steam-pipe 11, which supplies steam to the pump 10, adapted to pump the feed-water into the boiler through the pipe 12. Located in the pipe 11 is a valve 13, which controls the passage of steam therethrough. Adapted to operate this valve is a pivoted lever 42, whose free end extends through a yoke 13 on the pipe-section 26. This lever is used to open and close the valve 13 in the pipe 11, which allows steam to pass to the pump 10, which is operated thereby.

The rotary joints, piping, water-chamber, and weight are supported and held in place by the frame 36, which frame may be bolted or screwed upon the top of the boiler; but when the apparatus is placed upon the side of the boiler this frame would rest upon a bracket 37, preferably such as is shown in Fig. 1. This frame 36 has at its opposite vertical ends T-shaped formations for fastening thereto the base 69 of the joint 22 and the base 71 of the joint 31 and has at its vertical end under the base 69 flanges or wings for fastening by thumb-screws 39 or otherwise clamping thereto the uprigl'lt extending arm 38, which is provided at its upper part with the hub 40, in which rotates the piping 11, ex tending from the T-shaped coupling The arm 38 can freely slide upon this frame 36, but is fastened by the screws 39 at the height desired to take the weight of the water-claimber and the weight 27, and thus lessen the strain upon the piping .3, which extends into the oint 22.

By an examination of Fig. 5 it will be seen that the valve 13,which is operated by the lever 42 and controls the passage of the steam to the fastened securely to the part 44; but at its middle or central'part it again extends upward in the form of a threaded bolt and'has extending through it a duct to allow of the passing through and freely turning thereon of the rod or spindle 60, which connects with the shut-01f mechanism in the base 44. Encircling the lower part of the bolt 58 and resting on the upper surface of the part 47 and freely turning thereon is a base 48, held in place by the nut' 57 and having at its opposite sides upward-extending arms 49 and 51,

the arm 49 having at its upper part an elongated opening 50, in which rests the lever 42. The opposite arm 51 is jointed, as at 53, its upper part 52 having an opening, in which is fitted one end ofthe lever 42, which is held in place by the bolt or bar 55. The rod 60, which extends down through the part 47, is provided with a nut 59, which screws to the part 58, keeping it from wabbling, and this nut maybeprovided on its inner side with a washer or packing to prevent the leakage at this point. The rod at its upper part is threaded and has thereon a portion 61', having an opening 62, through which the lever 42 passes, and is fastened to said lever by the bolt or bar 63. It will be readily seen that,the lever 42 being pivoted at 55, as the water passes from the chamber 28 the weight 27 raises the chamber, and the lever 42, attached to the chamber end of th'e pipe 26, is likewise raised and in turn raises the rod 60,opening the valve and allowing the steam to pass into the pump. I I

On referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the sections 21 and 23 are provided with a rotary joint 22, which allows of an oscillation of the water-chamber 28 through the piping 23. This joint consists of a sleeve 66, in one end of which, 67, is screwed a plug 65, to which the pipe 21 is connected. Within this sleeve extends the tube 23, having a flange 64 at one end which rests against the annular shoulder on the inner side of the sleeve 66. The tube 23 extends through the sleeve, being provided with the plug 68 at the end of the sleeve 66, and is threaded to receive the T-shaped coupling 25. This sleeve along its central part is hollowed, as at 70, sufliciently to allow the turning within it of the pipe 23 with as little friction as possible, and the elliptical spring 24, which encircles the pipe 23, keeps the flange 64 tight against the annular shoulder, preventing leakage. By means of this structure of the joint a continuity of the pipeopening is made, andwhilethe tube is allowed to rotate within the sleeve the escape of water and steam is'prev'ented. The sleeve 66 has a flange 69 on its lower side for attaching to the frame 36. To permit the steam -pipe which is connected with the top of the waterchamber 28 to follow the movement thereof, said pipe in the section 33, which stands in horizontal alinement withthe section 23 ofthe water-pipe, is provided with a similar rotary joint of smaller dimensions, as shown at 34, whereby as the chamber oscillates said pipes turn in their respective joints to accommodate the movement of said chamber.

In theoperation of the device when the water in the boiler falls below the level of the middle gage-cock, so'as to allow steam to enter the pipe 6, the steam will flow through said pipe into the water-chamber 28, equalizing the pressure and allowing the water to flow therefrom through the pipes 29, 26, 23, 21, and 20, thereby reducing the weight of the water-chamber 28 and permitting the weight 27 to overbalance it, so as to raise said chamber and the chamber end of the pipe 26, as shown in Fig. 1. This movement of said parts actuates the lever 42 to open the valvev 13 and allow steam to pass to the pump 10, which is operated thereby and pumps the feedwater into the boiler through pipe 12.

When the water-level in the boiler has been raised so as to cover the communicating end of pipe 6, steamwill be excluded from the chamber 28 and said chamber will fill with water by the pressure within the boiler, the weight of which added to the weight of the chamber will overcome the gravity of the weight 27, when said chamber and its end of the connected pipe 26 will drop down, carrying with them the long end of the lever 42,'w,hich closes the valve, 13 and cut off the steam from the pump, thereby causing the pump to cease its operations, in which position the parts remain until the water-level in the boiler falls, so as to again allow steam to enter the chamber 28, when the water will be again discharged therefrom and said parts operated'to again place the pump in operation. Y

It will be seen, therefore, that this device is entirely automatic and is operated by the variations of the water-level in the boiler, preventing said water-level from falling below the point of safety and cutting-off the inflowing feed-water When the level has been restored to the required height.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic boiler-feeding system,a steam-operated water-feed pump, a valve for controlling said pump, a lever and means for operating said lever, said valve-casing having upward-extending arms connecting with the lever, whereby depressing the lever closes the pumps steam-supply.

, 2. The combination, with the water-column of a boiler, of an exterior vessel, pipes connected with the water column at different levels and havingindependent connection with the top and bottom, respectively, of said exterior vessel, said pipes having bends therein which place a portion of each in the same horizontal plane, a rotary joint in each of the registering horizontal portions of said pipes, said joints standing in axial alinement, a weighted arm adapted to counterbalance said exterior vessel When empty, a feed- Water pump adapted to force the feed-Water into the boiler, a steam-pipe leading to said pump and having a valve therein, a lever for operating said valve, said lever being connected with one of the movable elements.

3. The combination with a boiler, of an exterior vessel, pipes connected with the boiler at different levels, said pipes being attached to the top and bottom of said vessel respectively and having a bend therein to cause a portion of each of said pipes to stand in the same horizontal plane, rotary joints in said portions in axial alinement to allow of a turning of said pipes as said vessel oscillates, a weighted arm adapted to overcome the weight of said vessel when empty, a feed-water pump adapted to force the it'eed-water into the boiler, a steam-pipe leading to said pump and having a valve therein, a lever for actuating said valve, said lever having a slidableattachment to one of the movable elements, wherel y it is operated to open and close said valve as said vessel oscillates.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NORMAN F. ROADHOUSE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. A. SMITH, JOHN T. ETZEL. 

